While celebrating 100 Years of Care at Artman, the archives have been opened to explore the real history of our beloved home. Before The Haywood Mansion became Artman, the original location was in Sellersville, PA. The following article was printed in the Sellersville Herald on November 27, 1913 – three years before the original site was to open. Take a look back on what people then thought of the idea of bringing “The Artman Home for Deserving Lutherans of all Ages and Both Sexes” to their town.

Sections are illegible because of age, but here is some of the content exactly as it appeared:

Does Sellersville Want and Will It Aid the Artman Home?

Original article from November 27, 1913.

As printed in the Sellersville Herald, November 27, 1913

Trustees of Splendid Charitable Institution, Made Possible by Philanthropy of the Late Enos R. Artman, Now Looking for Suitable Site on which to Erect Buildings—Sellersville under Consideration but Residents Must Work to Get It Here—Will Develop into Mammoth Project.

“The location of the Artman Home in this locality would undoubtedly result in great advantage and benefit to this community. When it develops into an important institution and when large Chautauqua and other gatherings are held, numerous people would sojourn here for weeks at a time and would no doubt over-tax the facilities of the Home and seek accommodations in the hotels and homes of many of the residents. A large force of employees will no doubt also be required in time. The erection of the buildings and the improvement of the grounds would furnish employment for many workmen and after the institution is in operation, large quantities of food and other supplies will be consumed.

The original tracts of land that would become the Artman Home in Sellersville.

In fact the possibilities—social, economic and industrial in the establishment of such an institution in the environs of Sellersville cannot begin to be seen. ‘It would put Sellersville on the map’ was the way one enthusiastic citizen expressed it in discussing the matter yesterday afternoon, and we agree most heartily. It would put our borough on the map in many ways, not the least of which would be the undoubted prestige that would come to us in the eyes of the transportation companies, for the patronage from the local stations would be largely increased.

The Sellersville Vacation Home circa 1945 when it was owned by the Willow Brook Farm.

While the projected institution will be denominational, this should not in the least deter the residents of the town as a united body from using every means in their power to bring it here. Let men of every denomination, every creed, every class, businessmen, professional men, mechanics, laborers—all—unite in one great, brotherly effort to bring to our town what will undoubtedly prove of greater benefit in every way than any industry or institution now located in this section of the country.

The original Sellersville property is now a private home. Photo taken in April 2016.